Suitable Literature for Our Young People
By R. Cobden Kennedy
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15. This was the exhortation of the apostle Paul to young Timothy. Paul also urged Timothy to continue in the things which he had learned, knowing from whom he had learned them, and that from a child he had known the Holy Scriptures, “which,” said Paul, “are able to make thee wise unto salvation.” As it was essential for Timothy to know the Holy Scriptures, in order to be wise unto salvation, so it is necessary for the youth of our time to have the same saving knowledge. Wisdom is from God, and our youth need to obtain it. The exhortation is to study. But we find that many young people to-day are not studying God’s Word. There is so much cheap literature on the markets, so much that is untrue and unreal, there are so many enticing stories, that the young are led to read these things, and so to take a false view of life and its solemn responsibilities. Many a young man, many a young woman, who might have been a blessing to the world, has made shipwreck of life by reading trashy literature. Sad it is that this kind of reading has found its way into the ranks of the young people of this denomination. Consider the uplift that comes to the life from wholesome, solid reading. No subject can so broaden and strengthen the mind as history. “Pilgrim’s Progress,” if read and studied by the youth, will lead them to bear the experiences of the Christian life with fortitude. Our denominational books, “Great Controversy,” “Desire of Ages,” etc., and our good papers, especially the REVIEW, should be carefully read. Such reading by our young people would awaken in their hearts a desire to give the message to all the world in this generation. In this class of literature they will find food for thought and for study. Above all should they study the Book of books, the Bible, an estimation of which is given in the words of the psalmist: “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Grand Cayman, West Indies.